California

In 2001, the Public Health Institute and Samuels & Associates conducted a survey of California district level food service directors in order to assess the prevalence of fast foods and access to healthy foods in 345 California high school campuses, representing 171 California school districts.

CalCHEEPS was conducted from April 21 to June 28, 1999, by Fleishman-Hilliard Research and the Public Health Institute and was funded by the USDA and the California Endowment. Eight hundred fourteen 9-11 year-old California children were assisted by their parents in keeping a 2-day food and physical activity diary. A sub-sample of 394 children were surveyed by phone on their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about healthy eating and physical activity.

The California Dietary Practices Surveys (CDPS) is the most extensive dietary and physical activity assessment of adults 18 years and older in the state of California. CDPS was designed in 1989, and is administered biennially in odd years. CDPS was designed to monitor dietary trends, especially fruit and vegetable consumption, among California adults for evaluating their progress toward meeting the 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Healthy People 2010 objectives, and the1990 California Daily Food Guide recommendations.

The California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) is the largest state health survey conducted to date in the United States, collecting information from every county in California. The survey focuses on public health and access to health care, and has been conducted every two years since 2001.

The California Healthy Kids Resource Center (CHKRC) maintains a comprehensive collection of reviewed health education materials for use by teachers, administrators, university faculty, LEA staff and other professionals who work with preschool through 12th grade students in school settings and after-school programs.

CHKS, a tool sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE), provides school districts with an instrument to assess an array of health indicators related to academic success. Survey questions are drawn primarily from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (see YRBS under National Surveys) and the California Student Substance Use Survey.

The California Physical Fitness Test is a statewide student physical fitness test directed by AB 265 in 1995 to be administered at least once every two years. The State Board of Education designated the Fitnessgram as the required physical performance test to be administered to California students. Population tested: California 5th, 7th and 9th graders. Although the test is mandated, the extent of testing has been affected by logistical and fiscal issues. Used to assess: aerobic capacity, body composition, strength, flexibility, and endurance.

This report, entitled "Overweight Kids: Why Should We Care?" is based on focus groups conducted within communities throughout California by the California Research Bureau (CRB). Population studied: 19 focus groups of children and parents in ethnically diverse communities in California.

The California Teen Eating, Exercise and Nutrition Survey (CalTEENS) data tables provide detailed information about California adolescent eating and physical activity behaviors. The CalTEENS covers dietary intake and practices, physical and sedentary activity, factors that influence these behaviors including out-of-home eating, social norms, school environment, weight status, weight loss practices, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs associated with eating and exercise. The survey has been conducted every two years since 1998. Both data tables and survey instruments are available.